Calling All New West Yogis- Use Your Practice to Change Girls Lives

Yoga. It’s a stress reducer, a physical challenge, a mental break and often an emotional release. Some call it a personal journey on the mat, some call it holding space, and some, depending on the class, call it adult napping (Restorative anyone?). Whatever you name it, it’s an individual experience often shared in a group setting. You are working on you and still you’re in it together.

“Over the years of teaching and practicing yoga I have been a witness to the profound effects yoga has when practiced in a group”, shares longtime New Westminster Yoga Instructor Colleen Datt.

“We often find ourselves drawn to the mat for many different reasons, including emotional or physical injury. Yoga, coupled with the power of community, has proven to support the process of healing. A community begins to evolve.”

As communities grow and solidify, strengthen and inspire… the time spent on the mat can be used to make an impact off the mat. That’s the impetus for the Big Yoga for Big Sisters Yogathon Fundraiser!

With New Westminster’s growing number of yoga studios, and reputation as a fit city with a full roster of outdoor events, new to the Royal City social scene is this all ages, all levels yogathon. Big Yoga at Westminster Pier Park on Saturday August 12th will raise much needed funds to help transform the lives of girls in BC.

“Now that I have a Big Sister, I don’t feel lonely anymore or like nobody likes me, because she cares about me. She makes me feel brighter.” Little Sister Amy, nine-years-old.

As a leading child and youth mentoring charity, Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland facilitates life-changing relationships that inspire and empower girls to reach their potential, both as individuals and citizens. We believe that by changing the course of young lives through supportive mentoring relationships, we can change the course of a community’s future.

We also believe that yoga and mentoring have a lot in common. Both build self-confidence, self-esteem and self-awareness. Both improve focus, concentration, listening and relaxation skills. Both help us deal with challenges with an open heart.

Big Yoga for Big Sisters offers a full day of yoga, your choice from six classes and seven workshops, taught by local instructors from New Westminster and surrounding studios.

“Community is when people begin to care about one another, and where they begin to share and support one another. New Westminster continues to evolve as a yoga community and I am thrilled to be part of thisBig Yoga and this evolution of community!” says Datt, who will be teaching a lunchtime Hatha class and an afternoon workshop on abhyanga – the Ayurvedic art of oil massage.

Big Yoga’s fun, festival-like vibe also features an Inner Fire pop-up shop supporting Big Sisters, an onsite Skoah mini spa, and of course, hula hooping! (Because really, what yoga festival doesn’t have hula hoops?) Solo Yogis or teams can register online for free and are asked to fundraise a minimum of $100 per participant. All donations will go directly toward mentorship programs in the community.

It’s a tough world for girls. Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland provides supportive mentoring relationships to young girls who may be facing challenges like bullying, isolation, poverty, abuse, social anxiety, low self-esteem and more. Mentoring helps. 96 percent of adults who had a mentor as a child say they are happy and 92 percent feel confident.

In 2016, Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland served 775 girls with the support of 650 volunteers. There are another 175 girls waiting for a Big Sister of their own. Your participation in Big Yoga can help change this. Sign up for Big Yoga for Big Sisters New Westminster today and use your practice to change girls lives.